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Topic: Starter POP (Read 2808 times)

On several occasions my electric start has popped POW! when I hit the button. Like a metallic firecracker. I was sure it was toast, but started right up on the next push. I even checked the primary case for broken teeth. I can't make it happen, so the dealer is no help. Anyone have similar problems?

On several occasions my electric start has popped POW! when I hit the button. Like a metallic firecracker. I was sure it was toast, but started right up on the next push. I even checked the primary case for broken teeth. I can't make it happen, so the dealer is no help. Anyone have similar problems?

Was it a backfire (thru the carb)?

I rarely use the starter, but have read that it benefits the starter if, just like kickstarting, you nudge the piston just past TDC compression - using the kickstarter - before engaging the starter. I do this most of the time when I electric start. It provides the same benefit to the motor as it does to our legs. More importantly, the POP might be exactly the same effect as when you try to kick the bike over and it 'kicks back' at you. This often happens when you haven't nudged the piston just past TDC.

Ignore this if you're certain that the pop is coming from the starter motor or switch...... Is the pop coming from the silencer? Many kickstart singles will do this if you try to start them without first turning the engine past compression. Certainly my RE and my Velo do it. You discover this when the decompressor cable breaks and you can't use it.

If you turn the engine to compression and then kick, the piston can go over compression without igniting the mixture so an unburnt charge goes into the exhaust pipe. A quarter of a second later (if you have kicked hard enough) the next compression stroke comes around and the engine fires. The burnt gases going into the exhaust pipe ignite the unburnt fuel still in the exhaust system and you get a loud POP at the same time as you hear then engine start. I suppose the same thing could happen when using the electric start.

Hi No.5,I'll go with louma on this one. From your description, it sounds like a high amperage arcing in or on the starter. If I were you, I would unhook the battery first and then check for blackened areas where your red wire attaches to the battery. You may also see metal disfigured from the arcing. If nothing is on the outside and you feel adventurous, you might pull the starter apart and look for sparking damage inside. Just my 2 cents.

Luoma makes a good point. While nothing is impossible the starter motors on the Bullet are well..... bullet proof. In all of the years we have sold the Bullet we have only had one or two bad starter motors and even then I wonder. As I said, nothing is impossible, but I would not make it my first choice for your problem

Speaking of solenoids, anyone able to post a pic of one from the Enfield?We make solenoids here where I work and am just curious as to the style and similarity to any we make for Bombardier, Polaris, Arctic Cat (others that won't be cycle applicable).